Further allegations against Neil Gaiman emerge

Last year, allegations of sexual assault and non-consensual behaviour were levied against Neil Gaiman by five women, reported through several venues. Through spokespeople, Gaiman denied these allegations, stating that all of his relationships have been consensual.

Today, New York Magazine and its website arm, Vulture, have published an extremely detailed follow-up investigation, totalling 11,000 words. For the article, the investigation talked to eight women in total who all reported non-consensual and abusive behaviour from Gaiman. Gaiman's ex-wife Amanda Palmer is quoted as saying that she believed as many as fourteen women had reported problematic behaviour from Gaiman over many years.

Some of the reporting is extremely graphic, detailed and disturbing.

The investigation did not interview Gaiman directly, but through his representatives he repeated his position that all relationships were consensual, despite the vast power differential in several of them (one of the women involved was employed as his nanny; another was living in one of his houses with the intimation that she would be kicked out if she refused to sleep with him).

The allegations have already negatively impacted Gaiman's career: Amazon have cancelled the third full season of his TV show Good Omens and instead are airing a single 90-minute special to wrap up the story. Netflix are deep in post-production on Season 2 of Sandman and had been expected to heavily promote the show after its first season was acclaimed, but now seem to be experiencing headaches over how to handle the situation. Rumours of varying credibility have indicated that the story has been tweaked so Season 2 can serve as a final conclusion to the whole saga if necessary. Gaiman has not published a solo, full-length novel in some twelve years, though he has published some books for younger readers and story collections.

At least two police investigations based on the reporting have taken place, with one of them still ongoing.

Gaiman has long been considered a cult figure in science fiction and fantasy circles. He rose to fame with his 10-volume graphic novel series The Sandman, published from 1988 to 1996, followed by novels including Neverwhere, American Gods, Anansi Boys and The Ocean at the End of the Lane, as well as his collaboration with Terry Pratchett, Good Omens. He has sold well over 40 million graphic novels and books, and won numerous awards. Since the allegations rolled out last year, the response from his fans and former collaborators has been one of shock, but this is now turning into anger as the seriousness of the situation escalates.